Air Fryer Hysteria: When One Machine Replaces Five
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the basketball-sized appliance on your counter. Air fryers have become a staple in modern kitchens, offering a healthier alternative to deep frying. These appliances can reduce fat content by up to 95% compared to traditional frying methods. Your grandmother’s deep fryer is probably crying somewhere in storage, but honestly, who has time for gallons of oil anymore? These countertop marvels can fry, bake, roast, and even dehydrate, making them the Swiss Army knife of kitchen appliances. With it’s unique Hi-Fry setting, you can get your food even crispier than other air fryers on the market! Perfect for french fries, tater tots, and other high moisture foods that you want to get perfectly crispy and delicious fast. The only downside? Your kids will never understand the satisfaction of waiting 20 minutes for French fries to cook properly. This includes 5% who would consider buying a rice cooker or air fryer in the coming year, as well as 4% who would consider a coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster oven or slow cooker. While air fryers and electric kettles are becoming kitchen staples, others such as ice cream makers and waffle makers are relegated to less frequent use.
The Instant Pot Revolution: Pressure Cooking for the Impatient
Are multicookers worth it? Yes, especially if you buy one that has great searing capabilities. We tested and compared almost every type of Instant Pot, and the Pro came out on top. This electric pressure cooker phenomenon has convinced millions of home cooks that they can make restaurant-quality meals in under 30 minutes. The beauty of the Instant Pot lies in its ability to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sauté, and even make yogurt – all while you binge-watch your favorite series. Not only can it do everything a standard Instant Pot can do (remember: it’s already a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, cake maker, warmer, and more!), but this WiFi-enabled version also connects to an app with step-by-step recipes. You can even steam release from the app, so you don’t have to stand around waiting to flip the switch. The device has basically turned millions of people into amateur chefs who think they’re Gordon Ramsay because they can make pulled pork in 45 minutes. Pressure cookers, like the CHEF iQ Smart Cooker, have also gained popularity for their ability to retain nutrients. Studies suggest that pressure cooking can preserve about 90-95% of food nutrients, outperforming other cooking methods. This high retention rate is due to shorter cooking times and controlled temperatures, which help preserve heat-sensitive vitamins and minerals.
Smart Thermometers That Know More Than You Do
Gone are the days when you had to guess if your chicken was cooked through or your steak was perfectly medium-rare. The latest wireless meat thermometer from Meater tracks the ambient temperature (the air temperature in your grill, oven etc.) as well as the internal temp of food while you cook. The smart probe connects to an app displaying target, ambient and internal temperatures. It even provides an estimated cook time and displays how long your dish has been cooking. These little digital wizards send notifications to your phone, essentially becoming your personal cooking assistant. An accurate, fast instant-read thermometer is useful for temping meat, but it can do so much more than that. We use them to test whether bread is done or to check the temperature of deep fryer oil. It’s like having a professional chef whispering in your ear, except this chef never judges you for checking the temperature 47 times during one cooking session. The technology has advanced so much that some models can predict cooking times with scary accuracy, making you wonder if your thermometer has developed psychic abilities.
Food Processors: The Overachieving Kitchen Assistant
Remember when food processors were just glorified choppers? Those days are long gone. “The Fullstar Vegetable Chopper is a game-changer in the realm of kitchen gadgets, and its multifunctional design has revolutionized my food preparation routine. This all-in-one tool combines the convenience of a vegetable chopper, spiralizer and onion chopper, making it a must-have for anyone who values efficiency in the kitchen.” Modern food processors can slice, dice, shred, puree, knead dough, and even make nut butter. They’ve become the kitchen equivalent of that overachieving friend who somehow manages to excel at everything. Getting enough veggies in your diet isn’t always easy, but this best-selling vegetable chopper can significantly cut down your prep time. Plus, this viral food chopper is super trendy on TikTok for its ability to make uniform pieces. These machines can transform a pile of vegetables into perfectly uniform pieces faster than you can say “meal prep.” The only challenge is cleaning all those blades afterward, but hey, that’s what dishwashers are for, right?
Multi-Function Coffee Systems: Barista Skills Not Required
The humble coffee maker has undergone a complete transformation, evolving into a sophisticated brewing system that would make your local barista slightly nervous. Control your brew all from your phone! Simply preset your morning beverages for your family and press a button when you’re ready for your drink. This fully automatic coffee maker and espresso machine remembers your go-to order, providing you with familiarity only a barista could understand. Iced coffee devotees, have no fear: there’s an Over Ice setting designed to brew full-bodied iced coffees to satisfy your Starbucks habit. These systems can grind beans, brew coffee, steam milk, and create latte art – all while you’re still in your pajamas stumbling around the kitchen. This year, at-home coffee stations will become the new way to espresso yourself. Some models even connect to apps that learn your preferences and adjust brewing parameters accordingly. It’s like having a personal barista who never calls in sick and doesn’t judge your caffeine consumption habits. The only downside is explaining to guests why your coffee maker costs more than some people’s cars.
Stand Mixers: The Muscle of Modern Baking
Stand mixers have evolved from simple dough-kneading machines into versatile kitchen powerhouses that can handle everything from whipping cream to grinding meat. These sturdy workhorses come with an arsenal of attachments that can transform them into pasta makers, ice cream churns, food grinders, and even vegetable slicers. The planetary mixing action ensures even distribution while the powerful motor handles heavy doughs that would make lesser appliances wave the white flag. Modern versions often feature tilt-head designs for easy bowl access and multiple speed settings for precise control. The attachment hub system means you can essentially build your own custom kitchen arsenal around this one machine. Sure, they take up counter space, but they’ve earned their real estate by being the reliable friend who shows up to every baking emergency. Professional bakers swear by them, and once you’ve experienced the joy of hands-free mixing, going back to manual methods feels like using a stone tool.
Immersion Blenders: Stick Power in Your Hand
Known for their decades of reliability in the kitchen, Black + Decker (A Stanley Brand) is once again raising the bar for must have kitchen gadgets in 2025 with their Kitchen Wand 4 in 1 Immersion Blender. Reduce clutter on your countertops and save space in your cabins with this amazing 4 in 1 immersion blender. This rechargeable cordless unit has a long lasting runtime, allowing you to blend up to 74 bowls of soup, or chop an eye watering amount of onions! These handy stick blenders have grown from simple soup pureers into multi-functional kitchen tools that can whisk, chop, and blend without the hassle of transferring hot liquids to a blender. This unit comes complete with whisk, blender, food chopper and even a can opener attachment! Imagine how much space you can clear up by simply replacing all of your old clunk small kitchen electrics with this sleep and slimline cordless unit. Say goodbye to having to move your work over near a plug! Take the cordless immersion blender by Black + Decker directly to the stovetop, counter, or wherever you need to mix, blend, chop, or open a can! The cordless models have liberated these tools from the tyranny of electrical outlets, making them perfect for outdoor cooking or when you need to blend something on the opposite side of the kitchen. They’re like the ninjas of kitchen gadgets – small, efficient, and capable of sneaking into tight spaces where bulky blenders fear to tread.
Rice Cookers: Beyond Basic Grains
A rice cooker is a must-have gadget for just about anyone. Our top pick from Hamilton Beach isn’t fancy, but it outperformed many of its pricier competitors. It made rice faster than any other cooker we tested, and kept it tender for hours on the Keep Warm setting. Modern rice cookers have transcended their humble origins to become multi-grain masters capable of cooking quinoa, barley, oats, and even steaming vegetables. In January 2024, Xiaomi declared that it will launch a smart multifunctional rice cooker across the globe. Reportedly, the 8-in-1 kitchen appliances have the ability to be remotely controlled by any app for customizing the cooking of rice in the appliance. The fuzzy logic technology in premium models adjusts cooking time and temperature based on the type and amount of grain, essentially giving your rice cooker artificial intelligence. Some models can even delay cooking, so you can load them before work and return to perfectly cooked grains. They’ve become the set-it-and-forget-it solution for anyone who’s ever burned rice on the stovetop – which, let’s be honest, is pretty much everyone. This includes 5% who would consider buying a rice cooker or air fryer in the coming year, proving that Americans are finally catching on to what Asian households have known for decades.
Smart Ovens: Your Kitchen’s Brain
Yes, smart toasters really do exist! This particular toaster from Revolution boasts being the first-ever touch-screen toaster. Plus, it features smart cooking sensors that perfectly toast bread, bagels, waffles, toaster pastries, and English muffins to your liking. Smart ovens have revolutionized cooking by incorporating artificial intelligence, precision sensors, and connectivity features that make traditional ovens look like ancient relics. For instance, a smart oven can be connected to apps that provide cooking tips, voice control, self-cleaning ability, and reduced waste generated. Smart refrigerators also keep track of the fridge’s contents and alert the user when an item is getting close to expiring. These high-tech cooking chambers can recognize food types, adjust temperatures automatically, and even send notifications to your phone when dinner is ready. Over in the kitchen space, several multi-functional ovens were showcased, including the Revolution Cooking’s Macrowave Oven which boasts a patented toasting technology that allows it to work as a microwave and a convection oven. Some models feature internal cameras so you can check on your food remotely, turning cooking into a surveillance operation. They’re essentially the mission control center of modern kitchens, coordinating cooking processes with the precision of NASA launching a rocket – except instead of sending satellites into orbit, they’re sending perfectly cooked lasagna to your dinner table.
Specialty Gadgets: The Kitchen’s Supporting Cast
While the big appliances get most of the attention, it’s often the smaller specialty gadgets that make the biggest difference in daily cooking. Who wants garlic-scented fingers? Well, even if that’s you, you can probably appreciate a gadget that turns whole cloves into a super fine mince. The garlic press is an undersung hero of food prep, which is why we tested 12 of them. The winning press by OXO was so good, we didn’t have any negative feedback about it—a rare occurrence in our reviews! From egg peelers that magically remove shells to pizza rockers that slice through cheese without dragging toppings, these smaller tools solve specific problems with ingenious simplicity. Making hardboiled eggs will be way less tedious with the help of this useful tool. All you need to peel an egg is water, an egg, and the Negg. Simply add water to the Negg, shake the gadget up and down to allow the egg to hit the caps, then watch the egg magically slip out of its shell. There are automatic stirrers for when you’re tired of babysitting your risotto, clip-on pasta strainers for when you’ve lost too many noodles to the sink, and ice cube trays designed specifically for freezing leftover soup portions. Canned beverages are convenient, but they often lack the sensory experience of a freshly poured draft. Enter the DraftPro Top Can Opener, which transforms any standard can into a wide-mouthed vessel, amplifying aroma and flavor. Designed by Shu Kanno, this stylish gadget slices off the entire top of the can, providing a smoother, draft-like sip that lets you enjoy the full bouquet of your favorite drink. These gadgets prove that innovation doesn’t always require artificial intelligence – sometimes it just requires someone smart enough to solve an annoying everyday problem.
